Strawberry runners - What to do with them

[Jonny.D]

Strawberries are coming along nicely this year Though I'm wondering what to do with all the runners that are growing?

Some I'll pin into pots, is it OK to cut the ones I don't need or should I just leave them?

Also will the big plants that I grew from runners last year produce fruit again next year, or should I be keeping the plants that come from the runners this year for next year?

It's the first time grown Strawberries

[Martin H]

Cut off the ones you don't need. But if you root a few extra runners you can give them away to other people.

The usual recommendation is to keep plants for 3 years. The big ones from last year's runners will produce an even bigger crop next year, after which they will probably start to decline.

[chefgage]

Like whats been said. Pin down as many runners for plants that you need plus a couple of extras in case when you cut them from the main plant they die. Keep cutting off the ones you dont need so the plant uses its energy for growing/fruiting.
They way i have got mine is in a large raised bed. On the first year i planted one long row of new plants. During that year they prodeced runners which i planted in a second row the following year. These then produced new plants which went into a third row thus filling the raised bed. After the third year the first row of plants get replaced by runners from the third row and so on and so on.

[Alison]

I cut off all runners until after they've fruited (let them concentrate on one thing at a time ). Then take a maximum of two from the strongest plants.n only take the first bit too, the secondary ones produce weaker plants which hardly fruit he first year. Replace a third of my plants every year on rotation.

[Jonny.D]

Thanks for all the replies guys